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1497: St Wilfrid of York, Huntington Beach, California,
USA

Mystery Worshipper: Yarddog.The church:St
Wilfrid of York, Huntington Beach, California, USA.Denomination:The
Episcopal Church.The building: The parish was established in 1947, and their first
building, dating from 1966, featured pews, kneelers and an altar sanded
and stained by the parishioners themselves. The present building dates from
1988 and is marked by high arches, clear glass windows, water tolerant plants
and adequate parking.The church: It appears to be a very inclusive and supportive community.
They sponsor several spiritual and social groups. Of special note is a service
and luncheon held twice yearly for people afflicted with Alzheimer's disease,
and the parish's involvement in Beach Cities Interfaith Services, which
sponsors programs for the homeless.The neighborhood: Huntington Beach sits on the Pacific Ocean in California's
Orange County. With eight miles of ocean beach and a strong, consistent
surf, the locale is a surfer's paradise. Each summer Huntington Beach hosts
the World Surfing Championships and the U.S. Open of Surfing, the largest
surfing competition in the world. Huntington Harbour, comprised of five
man-made islands bounded by a network of navigable channels, is ringed by
multi-million-dollar homes and private pleasure-craft ports. The church
is located in a suburban area near a public park.The cast: The Revd Lee Walker, assistant for pastoral care, officiated
and preached the sermon. Representatives from local Lutheran, other Episcopal
churches and Roman Catholic churches gave readings. The entire St Wilfred's
vestry, led by Derek Wimmer, senior warden, were also present.The date & time: Tuesday, October 9, 2007, 7.00pm.

What was the name of the service?
An evening service celebrating National Coming Out Day – "Removing The
Mask."

How full was the building?
It was one-quarter full – about 80 people I'd say.

Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes. A very tall man with a great smile handed me a 16 page service leaflet,
a candle in a holder, a piece of paper to write on, and a pencil.

Was your pew comfortable?
The usual wood but it was okay.

How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Chatty. There were obviously a lot of people who knew each other or had
not seen each other for awhile.

What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Welcome! I am the senior warder of this church. My entire vestry is here
and we want to welcome you to this place."

What books did the congregation use during the
service?
The entire service was printed on a service leaflet.

What musical instruments were played?
Piano, bells, and one pre-recorded piece of music. The South
Coast Chorale were special guests.

Did anything distract you?
It was not a familiar service and as such was rather confusing. It was not
clear what the candle we were given would be used for, and I for one ended
up not knowing when to put it out after it had been lighted. The pre-recorded
piece of music almost drowned out a very good choir.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
It was sort of a take-off on the "lessons and carols" format. The music
was a nice mix of African folk music, traditional hymns, and contemporary
choral and solo pieces. The readings, with the exception of the gospel,
were excerpts from the Revd Martin Luther King Jr's Letter from Birmingham
Jail, the Diary of Anne Frank, and the works of Thomas Merton.
There was also a moment when people were invited into the chapel to receive
prayers from members of the church's prayer team.

Exactly how long was the sermon?
Just a bit too long considering the format.

On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
8  Revd Walker had an engaging personal style that worked well within
the evening's format. I prefer a sermon delivered from notes rather than
an extemporaneous talk such as this, so as to guard against the preacher's
rambling on for too long. But considering the nature of the service, it
was very topical but not political. And considering the fuss within the
Episcopal Church over openly gay clergy – very timely.

In a nutshell, what was the sermon
about?
It was a personal journey of "coming out" and how that affected his private
and professional life. One of the things he said was that a person is most
fully alive when he is truthful.

Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
The South Coast Chorale sang beautifully, but a piece called "Grace"
was especially lovely. And there was an outstanding moment in the service
reserved for bringing forth bidding prayers before the cross, accompanied
by a song called "This Day."

And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The pre-recorded music was simply too loud! It drowned out the chorale and
kept the congregation from fully singing their part. At least we know the
church's sound system really works!

What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
Everyone adjourned to the narthex for a reception that must have lasted
about 45 minutes. There was much mingling of people and good conversation.

How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
The coffee wasn't bad, but the cheesecake was fantastic. There was also
an assortment of fresh fruit.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
9  This was a special annual event, but it showed that the church
is an open and inclusive place. The whole experience just made me feel alive.
If it weren't so far away from my house, I'd definitely make it my regular.

Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Yes. More than anything else, the prayers offered in the chapel by a warm
and friendly prayer team made me glad to be a Christian.

What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
That's a hard question, as I will remember so much of this service. But
probably most of all, the moment of prayer in the chapel and the idea that
a person is most fully alive when he is truthful.

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